Gene Thorpe Solo Entertainer / Band
Too late to turn back now
Slip Sliding Away
You Ain't Going Nowhere
I Remember Everything
Crossroads
Happy Days
Gene in 1978
Overview of some of the Artists that Gene Plays.
Here is an example of Gene's Marketing.
Gene can play many country tunes!
Headlining the Sacramento Memorial Auditorium 1974
Gene Thorpe and Stephen Grace 1986
The Yukon Daily Band 1967-1970
Gene & Powerglide Band 1984
Overview
Gene Thorpe is an American singer and guitarist. Often regarded as one of the most versatile singers, musicians, and entertainers in the Northern California music scene. He has been performing as a lead vocalist and instrumentalist since 1961 and has never stopped playing or learning songs, Pop Rock Country and everything in between. He has a number of performance choices. His current favorite choice is as a Solo entertainer with professionally recorded backing tracks that include strings, horns and backing vocals. He has over 1,000 songs at his disposal. Gene can also be booked with a trio or as a full four piece band including keyboards, bass and drums with all members singing.
Reviews
3 reviews
Debra
April 12, 2026Gene Rocks
Gene did a wonderful job for my husband's 70th birthday.
We were an older crowd and he played all the songs we grew up with along with more current favorites.
People were singing along abd engaged.
We will use him again!
Hired as: Singing Guitarist
Bryer V.
November 11, 2025Best time 80th bday
Gene did an amazing job at my dad’s birthday party! He kept the show going, played a song list, and everyone enjoyed his performance. I would definitely hire him again!
Hired as: Singing Guitarist
Doug T.
June 14, 2024A perfect complement to our event
Gene is prompt, professional, and so talented. His versatility and sensitivity to the room gave our party a great pace.
Hired as: Guitarist
Gene Thorpe Solo Entertainer / Band
It was my great pleasure to perform for this wonderful family and great group of friends. Thanks Doug & Kathy!!
Booking information
Price range: $250.00 and up.
Languages: English
Gig length: 60 - 180 minutes
What to expect
Gene's Show comes with a complete sound system plus visual presentation. He sings a wide verity of songs and plays lead & rhythm guitar styles to accompany himself along with professionally recorded backing tracks. The presentation is very effective and can even present a party and dance atmosphere if it is wanted. In addition he easily communicates a positive element to she show. He performs over 100 shows per year and loves what he does. All of the songs are fun and uplifting.
About
Forever young- the life and times of Gene Thorpe
The endless spring of the intangible and sought-after mystical flow originates from the music found rising up from deep within his very core.
Gene’s awareness of the rhythms of life began as a kid.
The eldest of three siblings, he grew up near Coney Island in Brooklyn, N.Y. No matter where he turned his ear, the diverse sounds of the city came together to form an orchestra of perpetual life.
During Gene’s early years, many a weekend was spent at the exciting Coney Island Carnival, where kewpie dolls made by Gene’s family were handed out as prizes to carnival customers.
The carnival world stimulated Gene and taught him to listen and learn from the pulse of life.
Along with the sounds of the city, the piano accompanied Gene’s earliest memories as he often sat at its keys, with his companion tape recorder.
In 1953, Gene’s family relocated to Stockton to follow his fascinating and vibrant grandfather, Gene Greene, when he took a management position at Harris Manufacturing.
Gene was six when his grandparents’ friend, “The Singing Cherokee,” starred in his own country-music television show.
It was in the days of no age restrictions; the youngster accompanied his grandparents to the bustling bars, listening to “The Singing Cherokee” and his band play the now classic hits of Hank Williams, Web Pierce and Ernest Tub.
During the mid 1950s and 1960s, Gene’s family operated a service station. After school, it filled Gene with a steady stream of hot convertibles flowing with older teenagers dressed in the era’s coolest clothes.
These portable dance floors passed through blasting the timeless hits of Elvis, Fabian, Dion and Bobby Darrin on their tube radios while Gene changed car tires and repaired bicycles.
He discovered his own form of ‘portable music’ in a Hohner harmonica, which became his constant companion.
Gene’s focus on music matured on the radio’s sweet elixir of old time rock ‘n’ roll, generously poured out by the Kings, Roy Orbison, Bill Haley and The Comets, and so many more. Next, Gene added guitar and drums to his expanding repertoire of musical abilities.
When the young teen experienced his first rock ‘n’ roll band in an open-air show, filled with the sound of electric guitars, it swept him away. He was hooked.
The eager prodigy met piano salesman Carl Corbin in 1960. Gene spent all of his spare time with Carl, who mentored the young teen not only in music but also in the vital skills of an entertainer.
“Once I learned how to play, all I wanted to do was play,” Gene said.
Gene frequented jams around his neighborhood, honing his skills with other musicians who shared his passion. Gene’s gigs were often out of town playing drums.
Wanting to sing locally and move away from drums, he joined forces with three musicians. They picked tomatoes to earn money to buy guitars, amps and an Army surplus P.A. system and created the group, The Persuaders. They played the 1965 California State Fair’s Battle of The Bands.
After a year of hard work and even more fun playing many local dances and parties, the band dissolved in 1966.
The Yellow Submarine trio formed that same year with Frank Sorci on keyboards and Bill Miller on drums, followed by The Concern with Gary Powell, Verlen Thom and Laura Flowers.
Also in 1966, Gene landed a job at the Vox Room Guitar Center in Sacramento. He started as a janitor, then worked with inventory and moved on to selling anything that had to do with music.
Gene joined Dave Williamson, Ron McElroy, Ron Cook and later, Rick Taylor, to form the young band, The Yukon Daily.
“We rehearsed like machines, night after night, song after song. We were steeped in the blues and early rock styles,” Gene said. “We opened shows for the popular bands Buffalo Springfield, Steppenwolf, Big Brother and the Holding Company, Creedence Clearwater Revival, Quicksilver Messenger Service and many others. I can still play a whole night on the songs I learned from that period of my life between ‘67 and ‘70.”
Next came a short stint with a band called Movie. Then came the first version of The Simultaneous Avalanche Band.
After a long summer on the road in Lake Tahoe and Nevada and having all their equipment stolen, Simultaneous Avalanche’s first incarnation disbanded.
Rejoining Simultaneous Avalanche, Gene had a ”wild time” playing rock, blues and pop while touring Canada and 29 states, including Alaska and Hawaii from 1970 to 1976.
Gene returned to the music store when Avalanche came home in 1976.
That same year, Sacramento Entertainment Guide and Directory hired Gene.
“My musical career and the band were always my first priority,” Gene said.
His monthly magazine column went from covering 20 clubs a month to more than 100 clubs and events.
Gene met his wife, Shari, in 1978, when she stopped by the Tutor House in Carmichael where his band was playing. The serendipitous meeting immediately changed their lives.
In 1980, Sacramento’s music scene began to change rapidly and so did Gene. He left The Vox Room to start a new talent agency called GTA, headquartered in Skip’s Music, “one of the largest and most progressive music stores in the United States.”
He also put together Powerglide, which in 1981, won the Shire Road Battle of the Bands.
“We went on to play many top Northern California nightclubs and became one of the more ‘in demand’ corporate bands on the Sacramento music scene.”
Gene’s drive and ambition took him to yet another level when, in 1984, he decided to back away from the music business. Gene sold GTA to Stephen Grace and entered the real-estate business. His performance-based work ethic, combined with his years as an independent contractor, served him well.
However, Powerglide still landed gigs.
Gene never did leave the music business.
In 2002, after working with fellow musician, Realtor and friend Ron Barringer, he opened Pavilion Realty and also formed The Fabulous DeVilles band.
This year, Gene was elected president of the Placer County Association of Realtors.
Gene’s melodious fountain of his youth keeps him forever young.
Together with the Fabulous DeVilles, he keeps that grooved record of music alive and rockin’ with the songs that gave birth to the legendary kings of rock ’n’ roll.
Today Gene Plays with the Red Rooster Band as their Lead Guitarist and Plays many dates as a Solo artist.
Author: Kathleen McCoy Grover, “My Life, Your Music,” is a Lincoln resident.
Additional booking notes
Gene Thorpe has a YouTube Channel called Gene Thorpe's Little Red Rooster TV, and he looks forward to sharing his ideas, observations, and information about his life in the Music business, interviews, instrument reviews, original and cover music recorded by himself, and with his bands through the years.
Please, do, subscribe to his channel and feel free to share your feedback.
Past booked events
April 2026
11
Saturday
Birthday Party
4:30pm - 7:30pm
•
Loomis, CA
November 2025
08
Saturday
Birthday Party
3:00pm - 6:00pm
•
Lincoln, CA
June 2024
13
Thursday
Anniversary Party
1:00pm - 2:30pm
•
Lincoln, CA
Set list
Brown Eyed Girl Van Morrison
Against The Wind Bob Seger
Runaway Train Soul Asylum
Tulsa Time Eric Clapton
Who'll Stop The Rain Creedence Clearwater
In My Life The Beatles
Spanish Eyes Julio Inglesios
Sweet Caroline Neil Diamond
It’s Now or Never Elvis Presley
Proud Mary Creedence Clearwater
What a Wonderful World Louis Armstrong
Take Me Home Country Roads John Denver
Folsom Prison Blues Johnny Cash
Lord I Hope This Day Is Good Don Williams
Don’t Be Cruel Elvis Presley
Always On My Mind Willie Nelson
Hello Mary Lou Ricky Nelson
Slip Sliding Away Paul Simon
Then You Can Tell Me Goodbye Neal McCoy
From A Jack To A King Ned Miller
Jambalaya Hank Williams Sr
You Never Can Tell (C’est la vie) Chuck Berry
Hitch Hike Marvin Gaye
Third Rate Romance Amazing Rhythm Aces
On and On Stephen Bishop
Margarita Ville Jimmy Buffett
You are My Sunshine Gene Autry
Ring Of Fire Johnny Cash
On The Road Again Willie Nelson
Boot Scootin’ Boogie Brooks and Dunn
Wagon Wheel Darius Rucker
Achy Breaky Heart Billy Ray Cyrus
Kansas City Wilbert Harrison
Too Late To Turn Back Now. Cornelius Brothers
Just When I Needed You Most Randy Van Warmer
Cant Help Falling In Love Elvis Presley
Travelin’ Man Ricky Nelson
For The Good Times Ray Price
Gentle on My Mind Glen Campbell
My Girl The Temptations
Let Your Love Flow Bellamy Brothers
Cherry Cherry Neal Diamond
Summertime Blues Eddie Cochran
Hay Baby Bruce Channel
Johnny B Goode Chuck Berry
It Don’t Come Easy Ringo Starr
Paloma Blanca George Baker
Ob-La-Di, Ob-La-Da The Beatles
Two Tickets To Paradise Eddy Money
Summer of 69 Bryan Adams
Volare Dean Martin
You Got It Roy Orbison
Limbo Rock Chubby Checker
Wild Nights. Van Morrison
Old Time Rock and Roll Bob Seger
Have you Ever Seen the Rain Creedence Clearwater
Swinging Doors Merle Haggard
The Cowboy Rides away George Strait
Goodnight Irene Eric Clapton
Get Together The Youngbloods
Your Cheating Heart Hank Willams
Let it Be The Beatles
Slip Sliding Away Paul Simon
Wabash Cannonball Roy Acuff
I Believe in You Don Williams
Sugar Sugar The Archies
I’ll Remember You Elvis Pressley
Wonderful World. Louis Armstrong
Lodi Creedence Clearwater
Guitars Cadillacs Dwight Yokum
La Bamba Richie Vallens
Too Late to Turn Back Now. Cornealous Brothers and sister Rose
It’s Not Unusual Tom Jones
Break Down Tom Petty & Heart Breakers
Always on My Mind Willie Nelson
I Drove All Night Roy Orbison
All Shook Up Elvis Presley
Still The Same Bob Seger
Gloria Van Morrison
Goodnight Irene Eric Clapton
Against The Wind Bob Seger
Wonderful Tonight Eric Clapton
Get Together The Youngbloods
Pipeline The Chantays
Under The Boardwalk The Rolling Stones
Heart Full Of Soul The Yardbirds
Taken Care of Business Bachman Turner
Tennessee Whisky Chris Stapelson
Wildnight Van Morrison
Neon Moon Brooks and Dunn
Let it be Me Everly Brothers
Ma Ma Tried Merl Haggard
And it Stoned Me Van Morrison
Fire on The Mountain Marshall Tucker
Wipe Out The Ventures
Don’t Let Me Down The Beatles
I Just Want To Dance With You George Strait
Wagon Wheel Darius Rucker
Apache The Shadows
City of New Orleans Arlo Guthrie
Imagine John Lennon
Raindrops Keep Falling on my Head BJ Thomas
Hey Good Looking Hank Williams
Do You Believe in magic Loving Spoonful
Come Monday Jimmy Buffett
The Fireman George Strait
Big Bad Leroy Brown Jim Croce
Cry to Me Soloman Burk
Hello Mary Lou Ricky Nelson
Kansas City Wilbert Harrison
El Paso Marty Robbins
All Shook Up Elvis Presley
Then You Can Tell Me Goodby Neil McCoy
Waisted Days and Waisted Nights. Freddy Fender
Just The way You Are Billy Joel
Will You Still Love me Tomorrow Carol King
Gentle on My Mind Glen Campbell
Let it Be Beatles
Free Zack Brown Band
Lord I Hope This Day Is Good Don Williams
If You Don’t Know me By Now. Harold Melvin and the Blue Notes
Good Loving The Rascals
Influences and inspiration
Hank Williams, Ray Charles, Beatles, Van Morrison, Willie Nelson, A versatile, Singer Songwriter, who presents an excellent variety of fun and Interesting song favorites from the fifties, sixties, seventies to present hits. Great vocals and quick paced sets are a trademark of this seasoned Entertainer!
Setup requirements
Electrical outlets. Shaded Area. 10' x 10' Staging area.